Watch the video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel ►/ @flamebearers

What does it take to be the FIRST? To dream beyond what's considered possible? Marine Fatoumata Camara is the first and only elite female boxer from Mali. As she shares, she's gone "where people didn't expect her to because they didn't know what was possible."

As of the time of this recording, Marine was on her way to Olympic qualifiers in Bangkok, Thailand, seeking to become Mali's first female Olympic boxer. Since our interview, she's secured her spot, becoming the first of hopefully many Malian women boxers. While she's the first, she's committed to not being the last.

In our conversation, Marine shares about her upbringing including challenging assumptions about who can box, navigating toxicity and stress, and building the sports infrastructure for a country with limited resources and cultural precedent for boxing. Marine is used to kids high-fiving her in the streets (they see her as a role model); she's also familiar with the burdens she shoulders as the FIRST (though she won't call them that). She shares, "The slightest thing that you can do could have an impact on someone you may never meet." She's hyper-focused on being her best in the ring, but also her best outside of it because the future is watching.

Marine gushes how she's working towards a world where women and girls can be whoever they want to be. Here's to you, Marine! You're literally changing the face of boxing, and we're with you every step of the way.

In this interview we also sit down with Marine's close friend, Laurianne to get her inside take on Marine.

Episodes drop every Wednesday at 5am Eastern Standard Time through the Paralympics.

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Flame Bearers is the world's first media and production company specifically illuminating the unsung stories of resilient women Olympians & Paralympians. We tell stories via podcast, video, and live events and are working towards a world where people feel more represented, empowered, and enlightened about the power of community.

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